Mozart Players

We have quite a lot of classical music organizations in town. The ones I subscribe to are the Eugene Symphony and the Delgani String Quartet; I generally attend the Oregon Bach Collegium also, and the performances at the Musicking conference. Sometimes I attend the university symphony and the youth orchestra’s two highest groups, as well as an occasional performance at the Oregon Bach Festival. But there are lots more – I’ve never been to Chamber Music Amici, nor the microphilharmonic (lower-case), nor the Riverside chamber symphony. And until today I hadn’t been to the Oregon Mozart Players, which had been my step-father’s favorite; he and my mom attended that one regularly. But a month ago, our youth orchestras ED suggested I attend tonight because it would be a collaboration with the youth orchestras, and they were going to have a reception starting an hour ahead of time.

So, even though I had an allergy headache, I did go – mostly because the first piece was Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture,” which I can’t resist. The reception wasn’t happening, and honestly I was surprised the concert hall wasn’t more full than it was – maybe half the seats were empty. Besides the Beethoven, they had selections by Sarasate and Sibelius, then Mozart’s “Jupiter” symphony. The odd thing was, although the musicians were pretty much a subset of the symphony’s musicians, I didn’t know anyone in the audience (besides the youth orchestras ED; she and I waved at each other from afar). It was also a bit crazy walking back to my car – lots of students doing wild driving next to the university campus. I’m glad I went, but I don’t know that I’ll add them to my routine.